Wire or fence stretching machine.



Patented Nov. Il, 1 902. f J. W. SNED-EKEB. J. W. PAGE.

WIRE 0R FENCE STRETCHING MACHINE.

(Application led J'Ln. 24, 1902.)

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No. 713,'5I8. f Patented Nov. Il, |902.

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WIRE 0B FENCE STRETGHING MACHINE.

(Application led Jt'm. 24, 1902.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Shed 2.

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ilNiTen STATES PATENT FFICE..

JAMES W. SNEDEKFR AND JOHN W. PAGE, OF ADRIAN, MICHIGAN.

WIRE 0R FENCE STRETCHING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of letters Patent No. 713,518, dated November 11, 1902.

Application iiled January 24, 1902. Serial No. 91,007. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JAMES W. SNEDEKER and JOHN W. PAGE, citizens of the United States, residing at Adrian, in the county of Lenawee, State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wire or Fence Stretching Machines; and we do declare the following to be a full, clear, and eX- act description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in wire-fabric and wire-fence stretching machines; and it consists in the construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed out particularly in the claims.

The object of the invention is to provide simple and efficient means for applying the desired tension to heavy wires, wire fabrics, and plain, barbed, or woven wire fencing in a manner to allow the Wire fabric to be readily attached to its supporting-posts without injury thereto at the point where the strain is applied.

The above object is attained by the apparatus illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of the vertical clamp-bar, showing the draft-chains passing therethrough and the wires of the fence or fabric secured therein. Fig. 2 is an edge elevation of the clamp-bar, showing the movable sections on one side thereof adapted to engage the longitudinal wires of the fence or fabric. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail in elevation of the edge of a portion of the clamp-bar, the face-plate being broken away to show the gravity dog or detent seated therein, adapted to engage theY draft-chain which passes through said bar. Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view through a portion of the clampbar, showing the dog or detent in side elevation seated in the recess therein. Fig. 5 is a perspective View of the recessed hook pivoted to the operative lever and showing a section of the chain lying therein. Fig. 6 is an isometrical view of the clamp-bar and operative lever mounted thereon, showing the wires of a fence clamped in said bar and the parts in position for operation. Fig. 7 is a similar view showing the position of said parts when the lever is operated to place a strain upon the fence. Fig. 8 is an elevation of the fulcrum-ring carried by the operative lever adapted by the levers movement to force the clam p-bar forward and strain the fabric carried by said bar. Fig. Q is a plan view of Fig. 8.

Referring to the characters of reference, 1 designates the solid side of a vertical clampbar, which comprises the integral side 1 and a sectional movable side comprising the independent divisions 2, mounted upon the side 1 and adapted to be clamped thereto by the transverse bolts 8, passing through said parts and carrying the nuts 4 upon their projecting ends.

Seated in the recesses 5, located in the solid portion of the clamp-bar near its ends, are the gravity dogs or detents 6. Said dogs are provided with' a beveled depending end 7, each of which extends into one of the transverse openings 8, passing through the member 1 of the clamp-bar at each end and receiving the draft-chains 9, which pass through said openings, the links of which are adapted to be engaged by the dogs 6. Each of the dogs 6 is provided with a vertical slot 10, through which passes a fixed pin 1l, which limits the vertical movement of said dog. For the purpose of raising the dogs from contact with the draft-chains they are provided with an outwardly projecting finger piece 12, which passes through a slot 13 in the face-plate 14, that confines each dog in its recess. Vhile the dogs or detents G are shown as gravityactuated, they may be made spring-actuated, if desired.

The operative lever comprises a handle 15 and a fulcrum-ring 16, having a socket 17, in which the handle of the lever is secured. Formed upon said socket are the projecting ears 18, between which is pivoted the recessed hook 19 upon a bolt 20, passing through the eye 21 in said hook. In the projecting end of said hook is a channel 22, adapted to receive the edge of a link, and in the face of said hook and communicating with said channel is a flaring recess 23, having overhanging shoul- IOO ders 24, under which the end of the succeeding link is confined, as clearly shown in Figs. 5 and 9. Mounted upon the fulcrum-ring 16 is a curved spring 25, which engages the hook 19 and normally holds it in a raised position. The fulcrum of the lever is formed by a pin 26, projecting from the opposite edges of the cross-bar 27 of the fulcrum-ring. The ends of said pin are journaled in parallel arms 28 of the bracket 29, having the slots 30, that receive the journals 31 of the antifrictionrollers 32, carried by said bracket and adapted to lie against the periphery of the ring 16. The periphery of said ring is depressed at 33, forming a recess in which the ant-ifrictionrollers lie when the handle of the lever is in a vertical position. Projecting from the bracket 29 is a pin or stud 34 for a purpose hereinafter stated.

In the operation of this device the clampbaris placed in a vertical position, and the longitudinal wires 35 of the fabric to be strained are placed between the movable divisions 2 of the clamp-bar and the side l thereof by eutering them through the openings 36, which separate said divisions, when by tightening the nuts 4 said parts are clamped together, securely fastening the wires between them. The chains 9 are then secured to the straining-post 37 or other support and their free ends passed through the openings 8 in the clamp-bar. The operative level' is then placed `in position upon the clamp-bar, with the antifriction-rollers 32 lying in the depression of the fulcrum-ring and the stud 34 entering a recess 38 in the edge of said-bar, whereby the bracket and lever are supported in place, when the free end. of the chain 9 is drawn through the aperture 8 in the clamp-bar and engaged over the hook 19, so as to place some stress thereon, which position of parts is illustrated in Fig. 6. By throwing the handle of the lever downwardly the ring 16 is rotated upon its fulcrum 26, forcing the rollers out of the depression 33 therein against the edge of the clamp-bar and crowding said clampbar toward the straining-post. As the rollers ride out of the depression in the fulcrum-ring the stud 34 of the bracket 29 is withdrawn from the recess 38 in the clamp-bar, when the rotation of said rollers, imparted thereto through the engaging periphery of the ring 16, will cause said rollers to travel upwardly on the clamp bar as the chain is drawn through said bar and said bar is crowded toward the straining-post, thereby keeping the hook 19 always in alinement with the opening in the clamp-bar through which the chain passes and insuring a direct pull upon said chain. When the lever is raised after completing a downward stroke, the detent 6 engages in a link of the chain and prevents the chain from drawing back through the clampbar. As the lever returns to its vertical position the antifriction-rollers ride down the edge of the bar until the depression in the fulcrunl-ring is encountered, when said rollers slip into said 'depression and allow the stud 34 to again enter the` niche or recess in the clamp-bar, thereby supporting the lever in position until another bite upon the chain can be taken, when the operation is repeated. It will therefore be seen that as the handle of the lever is depressed the fulcrum of the lever is carried upwardly and that as the handle is raised said fulcrum falls, thereby insuring a straight pull upon the chain and obviating undue straining and friction upon the part-s. When the clamp-bar has been crowded along by the operation of the lever sufficiently to bring the ends of the wire into a position to be secured to the post 37, the bar is held in position by the chain 9 until the wires have been so secured, when it is removed.

The nature of the clamp-bar is such that the wires may be so secured therein that any` desired tension may be placed upon the fabric without injury thereto.

It will be observed that the lever is used at the lower as well as at the upper end of the clamp-bar, whereby the vertical position of the bar is maintained andan equal tension secured on all the longitudinal wires of the fence or fabric.

We are aware that prior to our invention wire-fabric and wire-fence stretching machines have been made with clamps or clampbars in conjunction with a lever-straining device. We do not therefore claim, broadly, such a structure; but

What we do claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a wire-stretching machine, the combination of a clamp-bar adapted to engage the wire, a draft-chain having one end attached to an operative lever and the other to a suitable anchor, an automatic detent adapted to engage said chain to prevent a retraction after being drawn upon by the lever, said lever being mounted upon the clamp-bar, and means affording a vertical movement of the fulcrum of the lever when said lever is operated.

2. In a wire-stretching machine, the combination of a clamp-bar adapted to engage the Wire, a chain suitably anchored passing through said clamp-bar, a straining-lever attached'to the free end of said chain and adapted to exert a pressure upon the clamp-bar, and means for shifting the fulcrum of the lever vertically coincident with its operation.

3. In a wire-stretching machine, the combination of a clamp-bar adapted to engage the wire, an anchor-post, a chain attached to the anchor-post and passing through the clampbar, a lever engaging the free end of said chain and adapted by its operation to force the clamp-bar toward the anchor-post and place a strain upon the wire, the fulcrum end of said lever being of circular form and the antifriction-rollers between the circular portion of said lever and the face of the clampbar.

4. In a wire-stretching machine, the combination of a clamp-bar, a lever adapted to en- IOO IIO

gage t straining-chain to move said bar, the fulcrum end of said lever being circular, a bracket mounted on the fulcrum of the lever carrying antifriction-rollers adapted to roll upon the circumference of said circular portion and to engage the vertical face of the clamp-bar.

5. In a, wire-stretching machine, the combination of a clamp-bar, a lever having a circular shape at its fulcruin end with a depression therein, a bracket journaled to and supporting the fulcrum of the lever, said bracket carrying,r rollers adapted to lie in said depression when the lever is at rest and to roll in Contact with the periphery of the circular portion When the lever is actuated.

6. In a wire-stretching machine, the combi- JAMES W. SNEDEKER. JOHN W. PAGE.

Witnesses:

GEO. L. BENNETT, F. E. OseooD. 

